A.N. I know this is a short chapter and I know it has been ages since I've last updated but there is a proper excuse. The main one is my mum went apo at me and took away the power cord for my computer and so I last half the chapter and couldn't write more until I got the cord back and then I got sick again. It was the same sick as last time and I'm still sick and that's why the chapter is shorter because my brain doesn't work and I write or do anything. Which really sucks but I thought this little bit would be better than none. Hope you like it =)

Disclaimer- I don't own any recognisable characters.

-How do you know Kiara, Ziva?-

-You know Kiara, Ziva-

-Kiara. Ziva-

-Ziva-

-Ziva-

Her words were going around in Ziva's head and no matter how she tried she couldn't get them out. Ziva didn't know why she didn't like her. She was an average person, a normal person and just because Ziva had forgotten what it was like to be normal, didn't mean Kiara couldn't grow up with someone normal as a mother.

After hours of convincing herself that Kiara would be fine, she sat down at her piano, not trusting her thoughts to disappear with a run like they would when she played the piano.

She shut her eyes and placed her fingers on the cool keys. It had been ages since she had played and she felt her body responding to the familiar position of her hands before she took a big breath in and played a song she thought she had forgotten. Her fingers danced across the keys, making a beautiful sound but not as beautiful as the last time she had played this song. That had been on a huge stage on the most beautiful grand piano and her old upright that was in her apartment could never compete with the sound of the rich, warm notes flying into the crowd who had been deadly silent until the end when the whole theatre erupted with applause and cheering.

Ziva remembered that feeling of pride as she played now but with that feeling of pride came the feeling of despair. The one that she felt every time she scanned the masses of people clapping for her father and found he hadn't showed up yet again.

She could feel the despair sinking into her playing as it got louder and louder and she finally opened her eyes to look at the way her hands were moving. Playing the piano was like riding a bike, Ziva thought. You never forgot. The song slowed down, nearing a finish and she breathed out deeply as she played the final chord, the apartment suddenly sounding so silent once her foot was off the pedal.

BANG BANG BANG

The loud knocks on her door startled her and she jumped up in surprise, her hand instantly resting on the gun at her hip.

She walked up to it quickly, looking through the eyehole at who would be dropping by at 11:30 at night. Of course, if she thought about it she would know. Only Tony would drop by at a time she wanted to be alone, at 11:30 and on a Monday. She grumbled a bit, not a lot because deep down she did want him there, on some level he knew how much she loved Kiara as he had been captured by her smile too. Maybe he could help her forget Emily's words that were floating around her head.

"What are you doing here Tony. Tuesday is movie night, not today." She said tiredly, her emotionally hard day catching up with her and making her sleepier than usual.

Tony was silent for a few minutes. He knew he had two options. Option one-the truth. He could tell her he was worried about how she went seeing Kiara and how he was even more worried about what had happened last night. He could tell she was dreaming as her loud snoring had stopped but there was something different about it. She had seemed calm, not worried or in pain like she usually did but now she looked pained more than usual and even though she was trying hard to not show it he could see the crazy look back in her eyes, the tormented expression that he had thought was finally gone.

And then there was option two-lie.

"I found a new movie! It looked so good and so I thought if you weren't doing anything we could watch it," he said brightly, covering up for the few seconds he was silent, hoping that Ziva would let him in. He wouldn't talk to her about it; they didn't talk about important things but maybe he could lessen the pain in her eyes and the stress in her hunched shoulders.

The phone ringing broke the silence and Ziva turned around to answer it and without a moment's hesitation, Tony followed her into her apartment.

"David." Ziva answered the phone as Tony sat down on her couch, pulling out the movie and a large packet of chilli chips.

"Shalom Perach Katan." Her voice was warmer now, and he could tell there was a smile on her face without looking over where she sat with the phone cradled to her ear.

Tony could only hear one side of the conversation but from what it sounded like Kiara was telling Ziva about her day at school; her first day if he remembered correctly. He pushed up from the couch; walking quietly over to Ziva and sitting down beside her, putting his head close enough to hers to hear the small voice of Kiara through the phone.

"Hey Kiddo!"

"Tony?" her small voice questioned from the receiver.

"The one and only."

She giggled and Tony looked over at Ziva and saw the smile that was slowly going down light up again. Was that all it took to make her smile? Tony vowed that he would make her smile at least five more times that night.

"How was school?" Tony asked gently, looking not at the receiver where Kiara's voice had been put on loudspeaker but watching Ziva's reaction.

"It was fun! Our teacher is Ms. Hamilton," she replied, stumbling over the new name unsurely. Ziva smiled again and pulled the receiver a bit closer to her mouth.

"Did you make any friends Metuka?"

"Not really, but I don't need more friends coz I've got you and Tony."

Tony saw Ziva gulp as if she was holding back tears so he reached beside him and pulled her into a hug, her chin resting on his shoulder. Her shoulders were shaking but there were no tears on her face; she took a moment to calm herself and then with Tony's arms still wrapped around her, she talked to Kiara.

"I love you Perach Katan but you've got to make friends your own age; otherwise you'll be missing out on so much. What about birthday parties? And playing on the playground at school? And someone to help with homework? And having a best friend?" Her voice wobbled at the end and Tony squeezed her gently, stroking her hair until she flicked his hand away. She didn't want to appear weak. Tony grumbled, was she so proud that she couldn't accept any signs of affection or help? Even though they had been together most nights after work she was still distanced from him and everyone else who had been helping through the whole Kiara fiasco. Couldn't she swallow her pride for one moment and let him help her?

"But you're my best friend Ziva."

Hope you enjoyed it, PLEASE review :) Jules.